Microsoft, WorldGate to Jointly Work for Interactive
Television
By Jonathan Make
New Orleans, May 7 (Bloomberg) -- WorldGate Communications
Inc., which connects televisions to the Internet, will work with
Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, to develop
products for interactive TV, WorldGate's chief executive said.
The two companies will soon outline plans for ``advanced
platforms'' for TV, WorldGate Chief Executive Hal Krisbergh told
the National Cable Television Association's annual meeting in New
Orleans. He didn't provide further details.
For $7 to $12 a month, WorldGate lets standard TVs connected
to cable surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail and get more
information on advertised products. Microsoft sells an operating
system that runs set-top boxes, devices that let standard TVs get
hundreds of channels and use interactive services such as
electronic program listings.
Krisbergh, also chairman of Trevose, Pennsylvania-based
WorldGate, spoke at the NCTA's opening presentation. Steven
Ballmer, chief executive and president of Redmond, Washington-
based Microsoft, will address the convention at the final
presentation on Wednesday.
WorldGate shares rose 5/16 to 21 7/8 on Friday in Nasdaq
Stock Exchange trading. Microsoft rose 11/16 to 71 1/8 on the
Nasdaq.
quote.bloomberg.com |
